https://leader.pubs.asha.org/article.aspx?articleid=1784828From the Journals: Technology-Assisted Voice Treatment Effective for Parkinson'sA study published in the American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology shows the benefits of assistive software, the Lee Silverman Voice Treatment Companion, as an aid in treating hypokinetic dysarthria in people with Parkinson's disease. The Companion software is designed to collect data on the variables trained during Lee Silverman Voice ...2013-03-01T00:00:00From the Journals

From the Journals | March 01, 2013

From the Journals: Technology-Assisted Voice Treatment Effective for Parkinson's

A study published in the American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology shows the benefits of assistive software, the Lee Silverman Voice Treatment Companion, as an aid in treating hypokinetic dysarthria in people with Parkinson's disease.

The Companion software is designed to collect data on the variables trained during Lee Silverman Voice Treatment®, a system that uses motor and sensory retraining to target vocal loudness, which triggers improved function and coordination across the various subsystems of speech.

Researchers investigated the feasibility of using the Companion as an "at-home" clinician for a portion of treatment sessions. Researchers randomized 16 people with Parkinson's disease into immediate and delayed treatment groups. They participated in nine LSVT sessions and seven Companion sessions, independently administered at home.

Researchers compared the data on changes in vocal sound pressure level to data from a historical treatment group of people with Parkinson's who were treated with standard, in-person LSVT. All 16 participants were able to use the Companion independently, and showed therapeutic gains in sound pressure level similar to those in the historical treatment group.